Top 5 accessible attractions and cities to visit in England if you have a disability
Looking for days out and weekend breaks this autumn and into 2020? With its rich history, bustling cities, and quaint countryside, England has something for everyone to enjoy. Plus, many of the popular destinations are accessible to visitors with a range of disabilities. Here, Strive Mobility, which rents disability aids and equipment, lists some of the best…
London Tower Bridge accessibility
London was the most visited city in the world in 2015, having had more than 65 million visitors, so we definitely recommend a visit!
One popular London tourist attraction is London Tower Bridge, which dates back to 1982. Crossing the River Thames, it took eight years and 432 workers to build and comprises 11,000 tons of steel.
Its distinctive blue colour came in 1982 when it was restored and reopened to the public. Before that, in 1977, it was painted red, white and blue to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee, but started life chocolate brown.
It has become an iconic symbol of London and is one of the most recognisable structures in the entire world.
For its 125th anniversary, a variety of exhibitions, talks and family activities have been running, with more into autumn and 2020.
Many of its features are accessible to disabled visitors. Some of the services include:
- step-free access
- wheelchairs for rent
- guided tours with British Sign Language
- autism friendly hours
- Braille and high contrast booklets
- induction loops
- quiet rooms.
Check out the London Tower Bridge accessibility page for more information.
Brighton Palace Pier accessibility
Brighton, which is located on the South-Eastern coast, is a popular tourist destination. It has quirky shops scattered throughout The Lanes as well as in its modern shopping centre, seaside entertainment, museums and beautiful sea views.
Start your visit by going to the Brighton Palace Pier, which extends into the English Channel. Take a spin on the various rides, test your luck in the arcade and enjoy a lunch of fish and chips!
There is a ramp with a handrail located at the main entrance. All rides and exhibits can be accessed by a ramp or a lift. All staff are required to have disability awareness training, so should be able to assist you, whatever your needs
Why not also take a 25, 45 or 90-minute boat ride around the English Channel with Ross Boat Trips, which are wheelchair accessible.
Lastly, a trip to Brighton wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Brighton Pavilion. Transformed in 1815, the exotic and extravagant house is heavily influenced by Oriental design.
The first floor is wheelchair accessible and tactical tours and audio guides with British Sign Language are available. Unfortunately, the second floor is only accessible via a staircase, but the audio guide includes a virtual tour of this floor. Visit the Pavilion’s accessibility page for more details.
Nottingham Contemporary accessibility
Calling all art lovers – Nottingham is the city for you! It is packed with music venues, cinemas and art spaces that have attractions everyone will enjoy.
We recommend you check out Nottingham Contemporary, one of the largest modern art museums in the country. Inside the 3,000 metre space, you will find four galleries, a performance and film space, learning studio, shop and a café bar.
Nottingham Contemporary says it is committed to making the museum accessible to everyone. The building is accessible with lifts to all floors and it has a Changes Places toilet equipped with a changing bed.
Large-print versions of the exhibition guides and hearing loops are available. Artist-led workshops and free gallery talks can be arranged, free of charge, for groups with additional support needs. Visit the Nottingham Contemporary accessibility page for more.
If you are still craving more art and culture, consider going to the New Art Exchange – which looks at the history and diversity of Nottingham – and National Justice Museum as well.
The Beatles Story Liverpool accessibility
Experience the hometown of the iconic Beatles in this beautiful and cultural city. As well as being situated on the waterfront, Liverpool is also home to more museums than any other city in England (besides London).
Visit The Beatles Story to submerge yourself in the world of the music legends, with changing and static exhibitions comprising of videos, photographs and memorabilia.
This museum is wheelchair accessible by lift and has accessible toilets. It’s worth noting that the lift has certain wheelchair-size restrictions and only three wheelchairs are allowed into the museum at once, due to safety concerns.
Induction loops and large-print gallery books are available and staff fluent in sign language are available upon request.
Liverpool also had the Merseyside Maritime museum, Lady Lever art gallery and International Slavery museum – to name a few. Check out the Liverpool Museums website for more details on each.
Finally, if you’re an avid Instagram user, Liverpool has a wealth of gorgeous locations that are ideal for Instagram photos.
Harbourside Bristol accessibility
Back in the day, the Harbourside area of Bristol was filled with merchants ready to trade goods and set sail for long voyages. Today, visitors can dine, shop and explore this modernised area.
While there, you must visit the Brunel’s SS Great Britain, a historic ship that once held the most passengers in the world.
The ship is fully wheelchair accessible, and it provides adaptions for visitors who are hearing and visually impaired. A sensory guide is available with specific information on what to see and expect during your visit.
Also, don’t miss Bristol’s colourful street art and its many accessible parks and gardens. If you’re tempted to make your trip an overnight one, Bristol has a bustling nightlife too.
Disability aids to help make your day out easier
Should you need mobility equipment to make your trips more feasible, consider renting through Strive Mobility. Whether you need a wheelchair, mobility scooter, hoist or ramp, we have what you need to make your holiday in the UK less stressful.
We hope that offering people the option to easily rent mobility aids will enable more disabled people and their families to travel and get out and about.
For more information about Strive Mobility and to rent equipment, visit our website.
By Strive Mobility
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